ESPH

Santo Domingo de Heredia declared a state of emergency due to lack of water Thursday, spreading concerns about the country's worsening drought.

Costa Rica's ongoing hot and dry weather is causing water shortages, especially in high-altitude areas of the capital and some parts of the province of Heredia.

The Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) will submit in April a proposal to reduce water rates for customers of Costa Rica's Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) and the Public Service Company of Heredia (ESPH). Customers who get their water from municipalities may not be affected.

Last year, thousands of Costa Rican residents went months without water. This year, in the north-central province of Heredia, it is going to be worse.